BY EVELYN ZORZOR
The Delta Traditional Rulers Council has called on government at all levels to institute people-oriented economic policies that are geared towards ameliorating the suffering of the masses.
The Chairman of the Council, His Royal Majesty, Maj.-Gen. Felix Mudiakpero (Rtd) made the call
at the monthly meeting of State Peace Architecture (SPA) organised by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) an international non-profit organisation on Wednesday in Asaba.
Mudiakpero said this would go a long way towards effectively addressing crime and criminality in the Niger Delta region.
Mudiskpero was represented by His Royal Majesty Charles Anyasi of Idumuje-Uno kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the State.
”We wish to take advantage of this moment to appeal to the Government to institute people-oriented economic policies aimed at ameliorated the suffering of the masses”, he said.
Mudiakpero, also the Oroje of Okpe kingdom who commended SFCG for the initiative said, ”Let me begin by stating that this meeting could not have come at a more auspicious time than
now.
”It is coming at a time when happenings within Nigeria and particularly the Niger Delta call for optimum engagement aimed at fostering endearing peace and stability within our region.
”Thankfully, it is hoped that the synergy arising from the collaborative engagements of the
Ministry of Youth Development, SFCG, Academic Associate Peace Work and Partnership Initiative for Niger Delta will yield germane dividends.
”Our confidence is especially derived from the fact that this initiative is being coordinated by no less a formidable organisation than SFCG.
”The organisation in the last couple of years has continued to generate impressionable footprints in the area of peace and conflicts resolution, especially
on the firm pedestal of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).”
He added, ”Let it be made succinctly clear that your devoted efforts are helping tremendously in lifting the burden of human management from off the shoulders of us monarchs.
”As kings, we are daily
encumbered with protest after protest, litigation after litigation, which is why we hold the tenets of
Alternative Dispute Resolution dearly to our hearts.
”Whether we are talking of International conflict or
rumblings in the remotest villages, royal fathers can truly testify; there is scarcely a better alternative
than alternative dispute resolution.
It is also our genuine prayer that you continue to search and achieve the desired Common
Ground in your holistic engagements for peace within our region.”
Mudiakpero therefore assured SFCG of the council’s support in actualising the objective of the SPA in the state.
According to him, we pledge the support of royal fathers even as we encourage the collaborative engagements of all partners, in this noble course.
In her remarks, the State Chairman of Peace Architecture, Dr Ngozi Mogbolu while welcoming members of SPA to the meeting, urged them to make adequate inputs that would help to promote and sustain peace in the state.
Mogbolu who decried the rate kidnapping, farmer/herder clash and land dispute in the state, stressed the need for an urgent attention.
She noted that the report from the Local Government Peace Architecture (LPA) and Community Peacs Architecture (CPA) revealed increase in kidnapping, farmer/herder clash, land dispute, human trafficking among others.
She assured that the reports would be channelled to appreciate authority for necessary actions.
Mogbolu also appealed to residents of the state to stay safe in view of planned protest and report any violence to the group platforms for urgent attention by the security agencies.
On his part, the Consortium Manager for SFCG, Mr Joshua Chorbe, stressed the need for SPA to support security agencies with relevant information that would assist them in combating crime in the state.
Chorbe also called for more advocacies of peace across the various communities and urged traditional rulers to come up with measures that could assist in combating crime in the state.
